I had taken early retirement due to stress built up over the years due to my job. It took me a while, but once I’d recovered my enthusiasm for life, I decided that rather than look for a paid for job I would see if there were opportunities for volunteering which I could get involved in. It needed to be something that I felt I could do within my skillset and not require me to have people reliant on my attendance. I’d seen the article in the County Gazette about the project and whilst it appeared to be something that was more for the Community it covered I hoped that being local to the area I’d be considered.
After a series of initial meetings with Maidenbrook Country Park & The Somerset Wood representatives, it quickly became apparent that any help would be gratefully accepted.
I’ve been a volunteer since January 2019. This is when the actual planting of trees commenced in the Wood area of the site. I was fortunate to have been the one to plant the first tree. I’ve been working regularly at the Park and Wood ever since and have planted many of the trees and shrubs around and helped with other projects as and when required.
I am responsible for Mitch’s Patch (the shrub area which leads up to the WWI Memorial stone) and it was agreed that I would donate and plant a number of shrubs here as a legacy from me. I also look after the Memorial stone area but do get assistance at times with the cutting of the grass and weeding from my fellow volunteers.
I’ve also planted some trees to the left of the Wood, next to the farmed field to the north of the park and look after that together with the trees down the left-hand side of the hill leading down to the stream.
Since the Summer I’ve spent most of my time working around the Wood conducting maintenance of the trees and shrubs which involves replacing sleeves with mesh if required, cutting back branches and clearing weeds and grass where necessary.
The work can be hard, tiring and at times very frustrating but also very pleasing and very worthwhile.
Whilst I’ve always enjoyed gardening and have done my own and occasionally others for many years, I still count myself as an enthusiastic amateur. Of course, I’ve built up a lot of experience with growing and maintaining things but often this is through trial and error.
Working at the Wood and Park has been great for me physically and mentally and being able to work with our fine group of volunteers has been a joy. The introduction of Candy Sully as Volunteer Co-Ordinator has helped to reinvigorate things and being able to bounce ideas off her has help to make us feel more part of the ongoing development of the site.